ETV Rolls Out "Eagan Votes 2012" Election Coverage

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Blog for us

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Eagan Television (E-TV).

Eagan Television (E-TV), your community television channels, is proud to present “Eagan Votes 2012,” a complete election experience.

The project, on air now, provides voters with the opportunity to learn more about local candidates before casting their votes, and stay up-to date on the results after the polls have closed. The initiative is highlighted by live election-night coverage with local political analysts giving voters local results and insights.

Election night broadcasting will present live updates of local election results, from city council to Eagan’s hotly contested state legislative races. Bipartisan analysts, with over 35 years of political experience between them will offer in-depth coverage including what to look for across the district during the night, reactions from Eagan voters, and insights on the history that brought Eagan to be the politically diverse city it is today.

Coverage will be on Eagan cable channels 16 and 20 at 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., and 10:15 p.m. on election night, Nov. 6. Don’t have cable? Stream it online at the city of Eagan’s website.

Before casting votes on Election Day, Eagan residents have the opportunity to
learn more about the candidates through E-TV’s “Meet Your Local Candidates” program. E-TV invited all 27 candidates running for office in the Eagan area to participate in the program, including school board, city council, Minnesota House, Minnesota Senate, and U.S. House. 26 of the 27 candidates accepted and took part. Each candidate was given three unedited minutes to tell voters, in their own words, why they should be elected to office. The program begins airing October 17th, on E-TV Channel 20, and can be viewed online at E-TV’s Election YouTube channel beginning Thursday, Oct. 18.

“‘Eagan Votes 2012’ is a project that brings public elections back to the public square,” said Tom Garrison, Executive Director of E-TV. “It gives Eagan residents unfiltered access to what the candidates have to say for themselves. It’s a chance for voters to make their own informed determination in advance of election day.”

A Senate District 51 candidate forum, which shows voters how candidates respond to questions of public policy, is also airing now on cable channel 15. The forum was sponsored by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Rasmussen College, and will be broadcast frequently between now and the election. It is also viewable online at the city of Eagan’s website.

“Eagan Votes 2012” is a pursuit by the Eagan Television to provide public access information concerning local political races as a service to the public. The “Meet Your Local Candidates” program is provided at no charge to political candidates, and is sponsored by E-TV. For the full broadcast schedule of “Eagan Votes 2012” programs and all E-TV programming, visit the E-TV website at http://www.eagan-tv.com.

Election night coverage will include the most up-to-date statistics regarding voter turnout for 2012. In 2008 Eagan had a 78.8% turnout rate, resulting in 33,318 in-person votes and 4,534 absentee ballots. As of this release the City has issued 1,840 absentee ballots and expects to reach, if not exceed, the same number of ballots as 2008.

For more information, contact Jeff Ongstad, Studio Supervisor at Eagan Television, (651) 675-5044, jongstad@eagan-tv.com.